Two-plate griddle

ABSTRACT

A cooking griddle has a pair of heat-storing plates with interfitting faces. The two plates are brought into engagement and one of them is heated directly so that the other is heated by conduction. Once a predetermined temperature is reached the heat is arrested and a piece of food, preferably meat, is clamped between the two faces and cooked with the heat stored in the two plates. An indicator is provided to show when the plates are sufficiently hot for cooking, and a thermostat can be provided to shut down the heat, if the unit is heated electrically, when a predetermined temperature is reached.

United States Patent 1 Marrie r541 TWO-PLATE GRIDDLE [75] Inventor: PaulMarrie, Dijon, France [73] Assignee: Societe a Responsabilite Limiteedite 2,720,157 Harrison ..99/376 X 51 Jan. 2, 1973 PrimaryExaminer-Walter A. Scheel Assistant Examiner-Arthur 0. HendersonAttorney-Karl F. Ross [5 7 ABSTRACT A cooking griddle has a pair ofheat-storing plates with interfitting faces. The two plates are broughtinto engagement and one of them is heated directly so that the other isheated by conduction. Once a predetermined temperature is reached theheat is arrested and a piece of food, preferably meat, is clampedbetween the two faces and cooked with the heat stored in the two plates.An indicator is provided to show when the plates are sufficiently hotfor cooking, and a thermostat can be provided to shut down the heat, ifthe unit is heated electrically, when a predetermined temperature isreached.

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75/ 62 PAUL MARRIE II-IVENTOR by marl To Attorney TWO-PLATE cnrnouzFIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a griddle forcooking food, meat in particular.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The liandiest way to cook many foods is witha griddle, especially for such foods as cuts of meat, hamburgers, andthe like. The griddle is simply a massive metallic plate which is heatedand on which the piece of meat is placed. Due to the large heat loss ofsuch a cooking surface, it must be kept very hot in order to cook thefood completely.

Whether such a griddle is in the form of a pan which is set on the heat,or whether it has its own source of heat, several difficulties arepresent. First of .all, the most common problem is that the food ischarred on the surface and left largely raw inside. Then the food mustbe turned if it is to be cooked evenly, which requires constantsurveillance. It is also necessary to pay careful attention that thefood is not overcooked, since the high temperature of the griddle cooksvery quickly. These disadvantages make cooking with such a griddle verydifficult.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an object of the presentinvention to provide an improved griddle and method of using same.

Another object is to provide such a griddle which overcomes theabove-given disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above objects are obtained according to thepresent invention by a griddle having a pair of heatstoring plates withv interfitting faces. One plate is mounted on a support and the other isdisplaceable into and out of engagement with the support mounted plate.Means is provided for heating one of the plates when the other is incontact with it so that the other plate is heated conductively, and thenthe piece of food is cooked by the heat stored in the plates.

With such an apparatus and method the food is cooked from both sidessimultaneously. At first the plates are very hot, around 290 C ispreferred, so that the piece of food, usually meat, is seared, then asthese plates cool off the meat is cooked through, if desired, and aftera predetermined period of time the plates are too cool to cook anylonger, so that no overcooking can take place. It is possible to merelyplace the food between the plates of such a griddle heated to apredetermined temperature, and leave it for enough time to cook, or muchlonger if necessary since it will only be cooked toa certain extent nomatter what. No expert supervision is necessary; merely a dial, forexample, need be set.

According to other features of the invention the lower plate is heated,either by placing it on a gas burner or by providing it with a resistiveelectric heating element, and the upper plate is displaceable. Bothplates are corrugated and interfit when the griddle is closed for bestheat transmission.

The upper, displaceable griddle plate, according to another feature ofthis invention, is mounted on a collar which fits around a bent uprightand has a lock so that the upper plate can be fixed along the upright atany level. The bend in this upright allows the upper plate to extendparallel to the lower plate when the two are closely juxtaposed, butholds the upper plate at an angle out of the way when they are fullyseparated.

The plates are advantageously made of aluminum or one of its conductiveheat-storing alloys or of some other heat-storing metal compatible withfood.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The above and other objects, features, andadvantages will become apparent from the following description,reference being made to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a vertical section through a first embodiment of the griddleaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a section taken along line Il II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view taken in the direction of arrow III of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 through a second embodiment of thegriddle in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a section taken along line V V of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a vertical section through a third embodiment of thisinvention;

FIG. 7 is a top partly sectional view of the third embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a side partly sectional view of the third embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a detail of the third embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a vertical section through a fourth embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 11 is a top view of the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a detail of FIG. 1 1 in enlarged scale; and

FIG. 13 is a section taken along line XIII XIII of FIG. 12.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION As shown in FIGS. 1 3, a griddle has a lowerrectangular aluminum-alloy plate 10 which has feet 11 and 12 and isadapted to stand over a burner. A tubular support 13 having the crosssection of a rectangle with one side formed into a trapezoid whose largebase is in line with and shorter than the rectangle side is fixed to theplate 10 and carries a plate 16 which is itself fixed to aheat-resistant synthetic-resin handle 15 having a lock arrangement whichholds it on the support 13.

This lock arrangement comprises a tapered disk 14 fixedly mounted on oneend of a pin 17 passing through a bore 20 and carrying on its other enda button 18. A compression spring 19 braced between the button 18 and ashoulder 20a formed in the bore 20 wedges the disk 14 in the channel ofthe support 13 to clamp the upper plate 16 relative to the support 13. Aslot 20b running the full length of the support 13 allows the upperplate 16 to move all the way along it, and even be removed therefrom.Furthermore, the support tube 13 is bent back at its upper portion sothat, as shown in dot-dash lines in FIG. 1, when the upper plate 16 isclamped in its uppermost position, it extends at an angle to the lowerplate 10 allowing free access to this lower plate 10.

The back side of the support 13 carries a syntheticresinhandle 21serving for carrying of the griddle. In

addition, the plates 10 and 16 are formed with complementarycorrugations 22 and 23, respectively, which are adapted to interfit asshown in FIG. 3. The lower plate 10 is also formed with a peripheralgravy canal 24.

The griddle shown in FIGS. 4 and is essentially identical to that ofFIGS. l-3, except that it is not adapted to be set over a burner to beheated. This griddle is provided with an electrical resistive heatingelement 25 connected through a thermostatic control 28 and afeed-through bushing 26 to a line cord 27. An indicator bulb 28a mountedon the handle 21 is connected in parallel to the element 25.

Both griddles shown in FIGS. 1 5 are'used in the same manner: The platesand 16 are first brought into mutual engagement and the lower plate 10is heated. The upper plate 16 is heated conductively by heat transferacross the two interfitting corrugated faces. Once a predeterminedtemperature is reached, the heat is cut, the plates are separated, and apiece of meat is clamped between them. The temperature at which heatingshould be ceased is not more than 350 C so that when the piece of meat,i.e., sausage, a steak, bacon, a hamburger, is placed between the plates10 and 16 it is nicely browned on both sides. As the temperature dropsthe meat cooks until around 150 C is reached, whereupon all cookingeffectively stops, with the meat merely being held warm.

The bulb 28ashows when the element 25 is live in the embodiment of FIGS.4 5, so that if a simple onestage thermostat is provided the extinctionof this lamp 280 will show when the predetermined temperature isattained. If desired, a two-stage thermostat can be pro vided whereinonce the desired temperature is attained and the meat is clamped betweenthe plates, a second temperature level of, say, 100 C for warming isheld. This second stage action could be triggered by raising of thesecond plate 16 to place the meat under it.

It has been found to be advantageous that the plates 10 and 16 have acombined mass equal to not more than three times the mass of the food tobe cooked. Thus, in one embodiment the plates weigh around 500 grams fora steak weighing 170 grams. Such a steak was cooked rare in around 30seconds and well-done in 1 minute. Obviously, such a griddle is verylight and easy to handle.

FIGS. 6 9 show another griddle according to the present invention. Itslower plate 110 is held by an inset support frame 111 formed ofstainless-steel wire with V-shaped feet 112. Such aframe is elastic andat the same time very strong. A peripheral gravy channel 113 is providedas well as two handles 114 of square cross section and each formed witha laterally extending ear. Each handle 114 is made in two pieces heldtogether by a screw 117, and fixed to the base plate 110 by two wires115 fitted in holes 116 in this base plate 110.

The upper plate 118 is corrugated to fit against the lower plate 1 l0and is received in a stainless steel cover 119 which acts as a shieldagainst too great heat loss. This plate 110 is formed with a pair oflugs 120 on one side which can engage in two corresponding recesses 121on the cover 119. On the opposite side the plate 118 carries a lockingpin 122 which is fixed in a bore 123 in the upper face of the plate, andwhich can engage through a hole in the cover 119 so that a locking bolt125 can catch in a circumferential groove 124 formed in the upperportion of .the pin 122. The plate 118 is further formed on the sameside as the pin 122 with a pair of bosses engageable with the undersideof the cover 119 to maintain a constant spacing between this cover 119and the plate 118.

Attached to the sides of the cover 119 are a pair of thermosettingsynthetic-resin mounts 127 and 128 which are spanned by and attached toa handle 129. Each mount 127, 128 is formed with a rectangular guidetenon 130, 131, engageable in a corresponding guide slot 132, 133,respectively, in the handles 114. These guides l30133 are vertical sothat the two plates 1 10 and 118 always register when the guides areinterengaged, with only their spacing being variable.

The slide latch 125 is a metal plate formed with a keyhole opening 134.A button is provided which is fixed to this plate 125 and is biasedinwardly by a spring 135a braced between the button 135 and therespective handle 114. In this manner the groove 124 is engaged by thelatch 125 to hold the plate 118 snugly in place in the cover 119.Pushing the button 135 to the left in FIG. 6 frees the pin 122 to allowthe plate 118 to pivot counterclockwise on the lugs 120'so that once itclears the cover 119 it can be easily slipped out for cleaning. Thereverse process is carried out for replacement of the plate 118: thelugs are engaged, the plate is pivoted clockwise, the button isdepressed to clear the pin, and the button is released to latch the pin.

A temperature indicator 136 is provided on the cover 119 and is dividedinto three zones corresponding respectively to the temperature rangesbelow 100 C, 100 C to 300 C, and above 300 C.

A chart indicating temperatures and cooking times for different sizes offood can be provided, i.e. printed on the handle 129, to aid the user inthe correct selection of temperature.

In order to be able to heat the above-described griddle electrically thethermostatic control shown in FIG. 9 is provided. A temperature-sensingprobe 137 is snugly received in the plate 110 and connected to athermostat 138 in turn received in a case 139. The thermostat 138 is ofconventional structure, with its adjustment wheel 141 passing through ahole in the top of the case 139 to allow setting of the cutofftemperature of the griddle. This thermostat 138 is a removable, plug-inunit having a shield 142 to protect it from grease and insulating block143 for the probe as well as a support wall 144 against which thethermostat mounting plate 145 is screwed.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show another embodiment of the griddle according to thepresent invention having an upper plate 163 fixed with a predeterminedspacing in a cover 164 so that the heat of a burner 165 is used in themost efficient manner possible. Two openings 166 and 167 are provided inthe rear of the frame of the lower plate 154 and of the cover 164.Toward the front of the cover 164 there are provided two lateralrectangular openings 168, all of the openings being of substantially thesame size.

The plates 154 and 163 are hinged together by two arrangements centeredon pins and 151 shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. The pin 150 is received in avertical groove 152 formed in a block 153 mounted on the side of thelower plate 154. A flat leaf spring 155 has a downwardly extending arm156 engaging against the block 153 in a region 157 to urge the spring155 to the left in FIGS. 12 and 13. The leaf spring 155 is formed with anotch 158 adapted to let the pin 150 escape from the groove 152 onlywhen this spring 155 is pushed to the right. The spring 155 is alsoformed with two elongated holes 195 through which pass a pair of rivets160 to hold it in place while allowing it to slide to a limited extent.The pin 151 can be provided with a similar ar rangement, but preferablyhas its groove closed off by a small plate 161 held in place by rivets162.

At the rear end of the plate 154 there is provided a grease shield 154aterminating at its upper edge in a lip 154b under which the extreme rearedge of the cover 164 engages. This cover 164 has a front edge 164a bentback to engage under a ledge 163a formed on the front edge of the plate163. A spring 171 is provided to hold this ledge 163a against the lip164a. A pull applied to a handle 169 attached to the cover 164 frees theplate 163 from this cover. This handle 169 is engageable with a handle170 of the lower plate 154 in the closed position of the plates In sucha griddle the heat from the burner 165 can flow through the openings 166and 167 and then out through the openings 168 so that a current of hotair flows around the two plates 154 and 163 to heat them very rapidly.

FIG. 10 shows also a rivet 172 fixed in the front of the plate 154 whichhas a Teflon head that changes color at around 290 C to show when thegriddle is heated up enough for cooking. Such a unit is heated until therivet 172 changes color, then the piece of meat is clamped between theplates, and it is set to the side away from the heat while the meatcooks.

It is also possible to provide a plurality of upper plates, all havinginterfitting faces so that a veritable stack of, for example, steaks canbe cooked at one time. Such an arrangement is especially of interest fora restaurant.

I claim: 1. A griddle for cooking a piece of meat, said griddlecomprising:

a support; a pair of complementary metallic plates, on said supporthaving confronting faces said support having a post means mounting oneof said plates for movement on said post parallel to itself relative tothe other of said plates to clamp a piece of meat between said faces;and

means for heating only one of said plates prior to insertion of saidpiece of meat and with said faces of said plates lying against eachother in surface-contacting and heat-transmitting relationship, wherebystored heat in said plates serves to cook said piece of meat and theother plate is heated solely by said surface-contactingheat-transmitting relationship both of said plates being substantiallyhorizontal with one above the other, the lower plate being adapted to beheated and being fixed on said support.

2. The griddle defined in claim 1 further comprising guide meanspermitting displacement of the upper plate down toward and up away fromthe lower plate while inhi iting displacement of the upper platelaterally re ative to t e lower plate for coup mg said plates together.

3. The griddle defined in claim 2 wherein said plates are formed ontheir confronting faces with interfitting corrugations.

4. The griddle defined in claim 3 wherein said post is an uprightelement attached to said support, said guide means including a guideelement displaceable along said upright element and attached to saidupper plate.

5. The griddle defined in claim 4 wherein said guide means furthercomprises means for releasably locking said elements relative to eachother.

6. The griddle defined in claim 5 wherein said upright element istubular and said means for releasably locking said elements includes ahand-operable button actuatable to release said means for locking.

7. The griddle defined in claim 2 wherein said guide means includes apair of elements fixed to opposite sides of said lower plate and formedwith vertically extending guides, and a pair of guide members fixed toopposite sides of said upper plate and engageable in said guides.

8. The griddle defined in claim 7 wherein said guides are a pair ofinwardly open channels and said guide members are a pair of outwardlydirected substantially rectangular tenons.

9. The griddle defined in claim 2 wherein said guide means includes apair of substantially coaxial outwardly directed pins mounted on saidupper plate and a pair of vertically extending inwardly directed groovesmounted on said support and receiving said pins, and means for openingthe upper extremity of one of said grooves for freeing the respectivepin and allowing removal of said upper plate.

g3 UNiTED STATES Minn"? (WMQE CER'NFEQATE iii @(iRiiEtl'iiiiN Patent No9 Inventorfi) It is certified that error appears in the above-identifiedpatent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the heading after line before iine insert:

-- [3'97 FIGN mummies? Pmo mw DEATA 3.6 'mtober @wss France 69-35427 21ma 1970 France 70-26812 Signed and sealed this 29th, day of May 1973.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M .FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attestingv Officer Commissionerof Patents

1. A griddle for cooking a piece of meat, said griddle comprising: asupport; a pair of complementary metallic plates, on said support havingconfronting faces , said support having a post ; means mounting one ofsaid plates for movement on said post parallel to itself relative to theother of said plates to clamp a piece of meat between said faces; andmeans for heating only one of said plates prior to insertion of saidpiece of meat and with said faces of said plates lying against eachother in surface-contacting and heat-transmitting relationship, wherebystored heat in said plates serves to cook said piece of meat and theother plate is heated solely by said surface-contactingheat-transmitting relationship both of said plates being substantiallyhorizontal with one above the other, the lower plate being adapted to beheated and being fixed on said support.
 2. The griddle defined in claim1 further comprising guide means permitting displacement of the upperplate down toward and up away from the lower plate while inhibitingdisplacement of the upper plate laterally relative to the lower platefor coupling said plates together.
 3. The griddle defined in claim 2wherein said plates are formed on their confronting faces withinterfitting corrugations.
 4. The griddle defined in claim 3 whereinsaid post is an upright element attached to said support, said guidemeans including a guide element displaceable along said upright elementand attached to said upper plate.
 5. The griddle defined in claim 4wherein said guide means further comprises means for releasably lockingsaid elements relative to each other.
 6. The griddle defined in claim 5wherein said upright element is tubular and said means for releasablylocking said elements includes a hand-operable button actuatable torelease said means for locking.
 7. The griddle defined in claim 2wherein said guide means includes a pair of elements fixed to oppositesides of said lower plate and formed with vertically extending guides,and a pair of guide members fixed to opposite sides of said upper plateand engageable in said guides.
 8. The griddle defined in claim 7 whereinsaid guides are a pair of inwardly open channels and said guide membersare a pair of outwardly directed substantially rectangular tenons. 9.The griddle defined in claim 2 wherein said guide means includes a pairof substantially coaxial outwardly directed pins mounted on said upperplate and a pair of vertically extending inwardly directed groovesmounted on said support and receiving said pins, and means for openingthe upper extremity of one of said grooves for freeing the respectivepin and allowing removal of said upper plate.